Marilyn May (Albertus) Toelke, born on July 16, 1936 to Frank and Frances (Sartorius) Albertus, left this earth to be with Jesus on July 4, 2024, following a brief battle with brain cancer.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Wayne Toelke, and their 5 children; Vicki (David) Mulder, Kathi (Rich Helm) Toelke, Lori Toelke, Scott Toelke, and Sherri, (Jim Steinke) Toelke. She has 11 grandchildren; Tawnya (Rod) Lipman, Stephanie (Tom) Barkley, Nathan (Kristy) Mulder, Cassandra Mulder, Ryan Mulder, Emma, Levi and Seth Helm, Turner, Ila and Anika Steinke.  Along with great grandchildren; Katherine Mulder, Jacob Lipman, Alex (Tara) Pool, Christian, Aiden and Sydney Barkley, Ethan (Katrina) Mulder, Owen and Pete Mulder, Adam Eberle, Payton Mulder.  As well as, a great, great granddaughter Blaire Pool.  And a niece, Ronda Griffin.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister, Sharon Griffin along with Sharon's twin brother at birth.

Marilyn spent many years of her life raising children, gardening, and farming alongside her husband. Feeding and nurturing the dairy calves was her gift.  She was a lover of birds and flowers, and filled their house with plants.  She created beautiful floral arrangements for their church for many years.  She loved to give tours of her flower beds and point out each type of flower.  Vegetable gardening, canning, cooking and hospitality were also a passion of hers.  Marilyn taught Sunday school and VBS for many years and delighted in finding ways to engage the children in the scripture lessons.  These things brought her joy and occupied a lot of her time.

She loved music, always singing a tune, whistling, or listening to music.  She never forgot a poem or lyric, and was very gifted at rhyming.  The number of poems she had memorized would fill volumes and she composed just as many.  Nearly every card she sent contained a personal poem.

Her collections of things saved inspired both humor as well as sweet nostalgia, such as a 50 year old get well card and letter from her, then, 6 year old daughter.

She had the opportunity to travel to several countries after farming life slowed, making many trips to Argentina with a group committed to supporting church plantings.  She was also able to fulfill a lifelong dream of traveling to Australia and New Zealand.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a memorial fund for the Rockford Rescue Mission, a group which works hard to meet the spiritual and physical needs of many.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on August 10 at 11:00 at Winneshiek Evangelical Free church.  There will be a visitation beginning at 10:00.  There will be a private spreading of ashes at the Toelke farm at a later time. Condolences may be shared with her family at www.walkermortuary.com.